Poultry-crate



Patented Apr. 12,1892.

H. o. MUNGER.

I POULTRY CRATE.

(No Model.)

- Nrrn TATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY o. MUNGER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' Po'u LTRY-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,903, dated April 12, 1892.

Application filed December 5, 1891. Serial No. 414,115. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in folding crates; and it consists in the peculiar construction, certain novel combinations, and the adaptation of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate, illustrating the parts in their operative positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the parts folded. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail. perspective illustrating the lock in position. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the cap-plate of the lock-casing removed, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View.

Referring by letter to the said drawings,-A indicates the bottom of my improved crate, which is of a rectangular form and is provided on its upper side, at its ends, with transverse ledges B for the attachment of the end walls of the crate, whereby it will be seen that the said end walls will fold flat upon the side Walls 0. These side walls 0, which preferably comprise a rectangular frame and wire mesh, as illustrated, are provided at their ends adjacent to their lower edges with longitudinally-extending trunnions a, which are journaled in the transverse ledges B of the bottom, whereby it will be seen that the side walls may be folded fiat upon the said bottom.

Fixedly connected to the ends of the transverse ledges B of the bottom and extending upwardly therefrom are standard-plates D, in which are journaled the longitudinally-extending trunnions of the end walls E, which walls are of such a width or height that their upper edges will rest flush with the upper edges ofthe side walls 0 when the parts are in their operative positions.

Extending from the inside of the end walls E, adjacent to the ends and upper edges thereof, are studs 0, which are designed to take into corresponding recesses in the ends of the side wallsO to render the cra'te.more rigid and firm when the parts are in their operative positions.

Fulcrumed in casings G G, attached to the ledges B and to the end walls E, adjacent to the upper edges thereof, are pawls H H, which are backed by springs I and have their lower ends extending beneath the casing, whereby they may be readily manipulated for a purpose presently' disclosed.

Preferably connected in a pivotal manner to the-ends of the crate-top J and depending therefrom are rack-hasps M, the teeth of which are beveled, as shown, whereby they will pass the pawls before described when shoved downwardly, but will be engaged and held thereby when pulled .upwardly. These rack-hasps M are designed and adapted in practice to alternately engage, the pawls H and H ,as illustrated, to lock the walls of the crate in their folded and in their open'or op erably metallic tongues N, which are headed at their lower ends and are preferably reduced above their heads to adapt them totake into the recesses in the ends of the locking-strips P, which are connected to the upper sideof the bottom and extend a slight distance laterally outward from the longitudinal edges thereof. By this construction it will be readily perceived that when the side walls of my improved crate are swung.

folded positions,whereby it will be seen that when returned to the shipper the crate may be made to take up but a small part of the space it occupies when its Walls are in their open or operative positions.

By reason of the peculiar connections of the walls to the bottom it will be seen that not only are the walls adapted to be folded very compactly, but when said walls are in their upright positions every corner and part of the crate may be readily and effectually cleansed, which is a highly-important desideratum, as is obvious.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding crate, substantially as described, the combination, with the bottom having the transverse ledges at its ends, the standard-plates connected to and extending upwardly from the ends of said ledges, the side wallshaving recesses in its ends, and the longitudinally-disposed trunnions extending from the ends of the side Walls and journaled in the transverse ledges of the bottom, of the end walls, the longitudinally-disposed trunnions extending from the ends of the end walls and journaled in the standard-plates of the bottom ledges, and lateral studs extending from the inside of the end walls and adapted to take into the recesses in the ends of the side walls, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a folding crate, substantially as described, the combination, With the bottom having the transverse ledges at its ends, the standard-plates connected to and extending upwardly from the ends of said ledges, and the stripsconnected to the upper side of the bottom and having recesses in their laterallyextended ends, of the end Walls, the longitudinally-disposed trunnions extending from' the ends of the end walls and journaled in the standard-plates, the side walls, the longitudinally-disposed trunnions extending from the ends of the side walls and journaled in the transverse ledges-of the bottom, and the 

